DefenseNews

Wars shift focus from jets to weapons at giant Farnborough Airshow

FARNBOROUGH, England, July 17 (Reuters) — Spiraling security risks are expected to push defense to the forefront of Britain’s Farnborough Airshow, as aerospace and arms makers struggle to keep pace with demand for weapons while cementing a fragile recovery in civil jet and engine production. With the Ukraine war in its fifth year and a ceasefire in tatters in the Gulf, those risks are also…
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DefenseNews

Franco-German defense cooperation under strain as Macron, Merz meet

France and Germany will discuss deepening cooperation on nuclear deterrence, missile defense, long-range strike capabilities and space at a joint ministerial retreat, the Elysee said, seeking to show that the EU’s two largest defense powers can still work together despite differences over major armament programs. The meetings come weeks after industrial rivalries forced Paris and Berlin to scrap…
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DefenseNews

US launches new round of strikes against Iran

The U.S. conducted a new wave of strikes against Iran’s coastal defense systems and cruise missile storage and launch sites on Wednesday after reimposing a naval blockade of Iranian ports, while Iran threatened to shut off more regional energy exports. The strikes mark…
DefenseNews

European firms plan exo-atmospheric interceptor for 2027 test

PARIS — Five European defense firms led by startup Destinus plan to form an industrial partnership to develop Europe’s first exo-atmospheric interceptor, aimed at defending against ballistic missiles, with plans to conduct a test of the kill vehicle in space in 2027. Destinus, MBDA, Safran, Airbus and Thales signed a letter of intent in Paris on Tuesday to set up the Bliksem EXO consortium…
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DefenseNews

Manufacturing woes hamper US 155-mm ammo production

Manufacturing problems are dashing the U.S. Army’s plans to boost production of urgently needed 155-mm howitzer shells, a Pentagon watchdog warned. Despite a goal of 100,000 rounds per month by October 2025, the Army had only managed to produce 36,000 rounds per month as…
DefenseNews

Ukraine agrees on plan to acquire 16 Rafale jets, France’s Macron says

PARIS — Ukraine has agreed on a plan to acquire 16 Rafale fighter jets from France together with the accompanying weapon systems, French President Emmanuel Macron said at a press conference here late Monday following a meeting of the group of countries that have pledged support to Ukraine. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Macron agreed on a roadmap between their two countries that…
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